Blue hippo ich?

[Lukebora]

I’ve had my blue hippo for about a month(white dots appeared about two days ago), it is eating well and extremely active. White dots are only appearing on the black areas of the fish and near the tail. Is this ich? If so how do I treat it? (All other fish especially tangs do not have any dots)

 

[vetteguy53081]

I’ve had my blue hippo for about a month(white dots appeared about two days ago), it is eating well and extremely active. White dots are only appearing on the black areas of the fish and near the tail. Is this ich? If so how do I treat it? (All other fish especially tangs do not have any dots)

This is something these fish are susceptible and begins as skin irritations and develops into mucus spores often mixed in with ich. Effective treatment is in a quarantine tank using coppersafe or Copper Power at therapeutic level 2.25 for a FULL 30 days (do not interrupt this 30 day period) monitored by a reliable Copper Test kit such as Hanna Brand- No API brand. Also monitor Ammonia levels while in quarantine with a reliable test kit and add aeration during treatment using an air stone.
The display tank will have to be kept fishless (FALLOW) for 6-8 weeks to assure the existing parasites go through their life cycle without a host fish and die off

 

[Lukebora]

This is something these fish are susceptible and begins as skin irritations and develops into mucus spores often mixed in with ich. Effective treatment is in a quarantine tank using coppersafe or Copper Power at therapeutic level 2.25 for a FULL 30 days (do not interrupt this 30 day period) monitored by a reliable Copper Test kit such as Hanna Brand- No API brand. Also monitor Ammonia levels while in quarantine with a reliable test kit and add aeration during treatment using an air stone.
The display tank will have to be kept fishless (FALLOW) for 6-8 weeks to assure the existing parasites go through their life cycle without a host fish and die off

I do not own or have room for a quarantine tank for the fish in my display, due to there being 11 fish in total. Any other solutions?

 

[vetteguy53081]

I do not own or have room for a quarantine tank for the fish in my display, due to there being 11 fish in total. Any other solutions?

Quarantine is not an option but solution. Its something that must be considered when keeping marine fish especially in numbers. I know many have space constraints and often many resort to reef safe solutions that offer no solutions.
A quarantine tank can be as simple as a tank from a second hand store or a starter kit from Walmart which most of the needed essentials.
You asked about options and Hyposalinity (1.009) may work but if does not, you will have lost valuable time in treating the fish. If you have coral, you will for sure have to treat fish in separate tank

 

[SaltySqueeble]

I’m sorry about that. You should get a quarantine ready for at least the infected fish. Hopefully hasn’t multiplied

 

[Jekyl]

Sorry this happened to you. It's the unfortunate side of the hobby. Best recommendations are the ones given from Vetteguy above. If you do move the fish out for quarantine, here is an article on fallow procedure to get your display ready for fish again.

45 Day Fallow periods

I've been doing some research into the "76 day fallow period". I never heard of that prior to coming to Reef2Reef this past summer. I had always used 32 days as the maximum time for a tomont to remain viable under tropical conditions, and then I would round up to 45 days to help ensure that...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I’ve had my blue hippo for about a month(white dots appeared about two days ago), it is eating well and extremely active. White dots are only appearing on the black areas of the fish and near the tail. Is this ich? If so how do I treat it? (All other fish especially tangs do not have any dots)

Are the spots on just the fish's right side? It does look like ich mixed with mucus plugs.